Marckell Williams
| A groundbreaking new study proves the pervasiveness of racial hate and attacks being experienced by Black online content creators and digital citizens on platforms including Twitch and Facebook. |
New Report Highlights Facts of Black Hate Online
The Online Racial Hate report is the latest project from B Code’s Intelligence Center in conjunction with SOHH.com, the most trusted, independent, black-owned hip-hop news brand since 1995.
SOHH.com was the subject of a widely publicized attack in 2007 that defaced the site with images of swastikas and black men hanging on the noose. The release of the report comes at a time when Black media platforms and Black content creators are at the center of the movement towards increased diversity and representation.
“This groundbreaking BCode/SOHH.com Online Hate study definitively proves that online hate is pervasive and unchecked on all social media platforms. Black creators, influencers, and publishers are the engines behind the growth of all these platforms, yet we are left exploited, unprotected, and financially devastated,” states Felicia Palmer, co-founder of SOHH.com, which was defaced and de-platformed during a 2007 racist online attack. “The evidence from this study is insurmountable — Twitch, Facebook and Twitter must enact tangible, meaningful and quantifiable reforms — from AI to personnel — to ensure there is equity in the next generation metaverse.”
The Online Racial Hate surveyed 1,070 Black respondents aged 18+ interviewed in a quantitative online survey in September of 2021, and they are representative of all main geographical areas of the United States.
More than half (54%) of all Black content creators reported having been victims of online racial hate.
- Across all respondents, Facebook and Instagram were cited most as platforms where users experience online racial hate.
- 18-34-year-old consumers are disproportionately impacted by online racial hate as 46% of that segment reports that experience, especially on smaller social platforms.
- The overwhelming majority of respondents who do not report racial hate are disenfranchised, with 58% indicating the report will not make a difference and another 30% believing that no punishment will be imposed.
- 66% of the Black audience says that online racial hate affects their mental health and well-being.
“Because of the discrimination they face online, Black content creators do not feel as comfortable expressing their authentic selves when engaging with others online and can often be isolated or financially disadvantaged as a by-product of not feeling welcome within online communities,” adds Danielle Hester, Brand Marketing Lead at B Code. “The onus is on these media platforms to make their digital environments more of a safe space for diverse audiences.”
Following up on this report will be a panel discussion on online hate at the BKON Innovators conference hosted by SOHH at 3 PM today. Participants of the panel will discuss the pervasiveness of racial hate crimes among Black online content creators and consumers. Panelists will include SOHH.com co-founder, Felicia Palmer, Director Public Policy at Hunter Colled, Basil Smike, and Johnny Mathias of the online advocacy organization, Color of Change.
Here is the link to join.
